Screw threaded fastening means and like products

ABSTRACT

A novel screw threaded fastening means of a corrosion resistant nature and presenting a shiny, or lustrous, or satin-like outer appearance.

United States Patent Hage May 20, 1975 SCREW THREADED FASTENING MEANS [56] References Cited AND LIKE PRODUCTS UNITED STATES PATENTS [75] Inventor: Jacob M. Hage, Farmington, Mich. 1,738,748 12/1929 Winshing 29/l96.4 3,099,083 7/1963 Delung 85/1 C Asslgneei Chrome Process Company 3,463,045 8/1969 Prescott 85/41 Detrolt, M1ch. 3,517,581 6/1970 Stokes et a1. 35/47 Filed: y 1972 3,682,604 8/1972 Glrard et al. 29/196.4 [211 App! No: 249,850 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 811,573 4/1959 Umted Kmgdom 85/1 C Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 208,080, Dec. 15, Primary Examiner-Edward C. Allen 1971, abandoned. Attorney, Agent, or Firml-larness, Dickey & Pierce [52] U.S. Cl 85/1 C; 85/47; 29/196.3; 57 ABSTRACT A novel screw threaded fastenmg means of a corro- [51] Int. Cl F16b425/2l)90,1;363b 11954148 Sion resistant nature and presenting a shiny or [58] held of Search trous, or satin-like outer appearance.

12 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BASE METAL.

FATENTED W 29 E75 SHANKI4 BASE METAL Fig.2

Fig.|

3O-SELF TAPPING Fig. 3

SCREW THREADED FASTENING MEANS AND LIKE PRODUCTS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation in part of commonly assigned copending application Ser. No. 208,080, filed Dec. 15, 1971 and now abandoned. The disclosure and references cited in said copending application are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention broadly relates to novel screw threaded fastening means and like products. More specifically, this invention relates to a novel fastener means which possesses good resistance to corrosion and which fastener means generally present a shiny outer appearance, or a lustrous outer appearance, or a satin-like outer appearance.

A main object of this invention is to provide a particularly economical and new fastener means which possesses good resistance to corrosion and which has an outer shiny appearance, or lustrous appearance, or satin1ike appearance.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved fastener means for use in the automotive field or for like uses in other fields.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates one suitable fastener of a construction in accordance with the invention disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a typical cross section of the surface construction of the fastener in FIG. 1 (with the cross section for example being taken on the fastener head midway between the recess and the edge of the head) showing the metal layer means structure of the fastener; and,

FIG. 3, in partial cut-away form, illustrates another fastener embodiment in accordance with this invention wherein a self tapping end portion is included on the fastener.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is not fully understood why the invention provides the advantages or excellent results which have been ob tained, and it is not intended to base the invention on any particular theory of operation, yet it is believed that the new product discovered and disclosed herein derives its unexpected benefits or advantages from special layer material means which are constructed on or applied on the basis metal of the fastener. A fastener constructed in accordance with the invention is particularly economical to produce, and yet possesses good corrosion resistance properties while at the same time presenting an outer shiny or lustrous or satin-like appearance. The invention is still being studied to obtain a better understanding of the operative causes which underlie the discovery. The invention is believed to be of wide applicability to fasteners and like products.

As background to this invention, one of the original uses of chromium was as a very thin layer on decorative parts because the chromium is very tarnish resistant and retains its bright appearance. It was subsequently discovered that under certain conditions thin chromium layer means, deposited over nickel plated parts, significantly enhanced the basis metal protection against corrosion. An explanation of this phenomena can be made using electrode potentials and the distribution of corrosion currents between multiple metallic layer means. This has led to applications of multiple nickel deposits, micro-cracked, and micro-porous chromium deposits, etc. to give increased corrosion protection. However chromium in some instances is difficult to apply for various reasons such as low throwing power or intermittent contact, etc. and this is particularly true in bulk chromium finishing of fasteners.

In one inventive aspect it has now been found that extremely thin deposits of tin-nickel alloys or like alloy materials over a nickel layer appears to very significantly enhance the corrosion protection of the basis metal similar to thin chromium deposits. This result is not completely understood at present and is still being studied.

In addition it is considered that because of ecological and economical reasons the discovery referred to above is of significant potential in industry. Also, in numerous instances, small parts are uniquely difficult to chromium plate in bulk whereas the invention discovered and disclosed herein provides a substitute process which is not difficult to carry out because the small parts such as fasteners may be kept in a plating cylinder or barrel plating apparatus and then transmitted directly into a tinnickel plating bath or like material plating bath as disclosed herein for the amount of time necessary to effect the preparation of a fastener product as discovered herein.

In one aspect, briefly stated, the present invention comprises a plated carbon steel threaded fastener means for fastening objects in exterior as well as interior applications, such as in the automotive field and the like, and operative to provide good corrosion resistance properties, and being of a satin-like or shiny appearance, comprising: a head portion at one end of the fastener means, and a shank portion, said fastener means having a structural makeup of separate layers including, (a) structural base metal means of carbon steel, (b) layer means of copper having a thickness between about 0.00001 and about 0.0001 inches, (c) layer means of cadmium having a thickness between about 0.00005 and about 0.00009 inches, (d) layer means of copper having a thickness between about 0.00001 and about 0.0005 inches, (e) layer means of nickel having a thickness between about 0.0001 and about 0.0007 inches, (f) layer means of at least one material selected from the group consisting of a tin/nickel alloy, a tin/cobalt-nickel alloy, or a tin/cobalt alloy, said layer means having a thickness between about 0000005 and about 0.00020 inches, said layer means being for the most part applied by electrolytic coating process and being operative to enable good corrosion resistance properties and good adhesion properties.

In another aspect, briefly stated, the present invention concerns a corrosion resistant plated metal fastener means for fastening objects in exterior as well as interior applications, such as in the automotive field and the like, and operative to provide good corrosion resistance properties, and being of satin-like or shiny appearance, comprising: a head portion at one end of the fastener means, and a shank portion, said fastener means having a structural makeup of separate layers including, (a) structural base metal means, (b) layer means of metal selected from at least one of the group consisting of copper, cobalt, nickel, tin, cadmium and zinc having a thickness between about 0.00001 and about 0.0001 inches, (c) layer means of metal selected from at least one of the group consisting of cadmium, zinc, tin, cadmium-tin alloy, cadmium-zinc alloys, zinccopper alloys, cadmium-copper alloys, and zinc-tin alloys, having a thickness between about 000005 and about 0.0009 inches, ((1) layer means of copper having a thickness between about 0.00001 and about 0.0005 inches, (e) layer means of metal selected from at least one of the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, and nickel-cobalt alloys, having a thickness between about 0.0001 and about 0.0007 inches, (f) layer means of at least one material selected from the group consisting of a tin/nickel alloy, a tin/cobalt-nickel alloy, or a tin/- cobalt alloy, said layer means having a thickness between about 0.000005 and about 0.00020 inches, said layer means being for the most part applied by electrolytic coating process and being operative to enable good corrosion resistance properties and good adhesion properties.

In another aspect, briefly stated, the present invention comprises a means for fastening various objects and for like uses, said means having a structural makeup of layers including, (a) structural base metal means, (b) layer means of metal selected from at least one of the group consisting of copper, cobalt, nickel, tin, cadmium, and zinc having a thickness between about 0.00001 and about 0.0001 inches, (c) layer means of metal selected from at least one of the group consisting of cadmium, zinc, tin, cadmium-tin alloys, cadmium-zinc alloys, zinc-copper alloys, cadmiumcopper alloys, and zinc-tin alloys, having a thickness between about 0.00005 and about 0.0009 inches, ((1) layer means of copper having a thickness between about 0.00001 and about 0.0005 inches, (e) layer means of metal selected from at least one of the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, and nickel-cobalt alloys, having a thickness between about 0.0001 and about 0.0007 inches, (f) layer means of at least one material selected from the group consisting of a tin/nickel alloy, a tin/cobalt-nickel alloy, or a tin/cobalt alloy, said layer means having a thickness between about 0.000005 and about 000020 inches, said layer means being for the most part applied by electrolytic coating process and being operative to enable good corrosion resistance properties and good adhesion properties.

The invention also concerns a fastener means which includes self tapping means at one end of the fastener for drilling a receptive aperture for the fastener. The fastener herein, in preferred embodiments, is either threaded or contains annular grooves.

In still another aspect, the present invention comprises a fastener means for fastening objects in interior as well as exterior applications, such as in the automotive field and the like, and operative to provide good corrosion resistance properties, and being of satin-like lustrous or shiny appearance, comprising: a head portion at one end of the fastener means, and a shank portion, said fastener means having a structural makeup of separate layers including, (a) structural base metal means for generally supporting the fastener means, (b) zero up to about 0.0005 inches thickness of a layer means of copper, (c) layer means selected from at least one material of the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, and nickel-cobalt alloys, having a thickness between about 0.0001 and about 0.001 inches, ((1) layer means of at least one material selected from the group consisting of a tin/nickel alloy, a tin/cobalt-nickel alloy, or a tin/cobalt alloy, said layer means having a thickness between about 0.000005 and about 000020 inches, said layer means being for the most part applied by electrolytic coating process and being operative to enable good corrosion resistance properties and good adhesion properties.

A particularly unique feature discovered in accordance with the invention herein is that the fastener means constructed as described above if contacted with an aqueous, mildly acidic solution means containing chromate and or dichromate materials in solution renders the fastener construction such that it is operative to retain a shiny or lustrous or satin-like outer appearance under significant corrosion resistance. This shiny appearance, etc., and resistance to corrosion is cumulative or additive to that described above in the various fastener constructions there disclosed.

Another unique feature discovered in accordance with the invention herein is that very fine particulate insoluble material means may be held in suspension in the Sn/Ni solution while electrodeposition is being carried on so that many of these fine particles are codeposited with the metal. Many types of insoluble particles are possible some of which may be BaSO etc. By insoluble it is meant insoluble in the electrolytic coating bath used for electrolytic coating of the Sn/Ni alloy or the like. It has been discovered that under certain conditions this codeposition in the final layer will greatly enhance the basis metal protection from corrosion. This of course differs from previous use of codeposited fine particulate matter in that in this case the particulate matter is codeposited in the final layer. These insoluble particles may be selected from the group as follows: (1) insoluble inorganic materials, such as oxides, sulfates, ferrites and the like, (2) fine particulated plastic resins, and (3) fine particulated glass materials. Representative fine particles which may be used (and incorporated herein by reference) are disclosed in 1.1.8. Pat. Nos. 3,356,467; 3,268,424; 3,268,423; 3,268,308; and 3,268,307. These fine particles should have a particle size of less than about microns, and preferably less than about 50 microns average particle diameter. Good results are obtained within the range of about 0.001 to about 5 microns average particle diameter (sometimes referred to as particle size).

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS This description should be taken as illustrative only, and the description is made to describe the preferred embodiments of this invention.

P16. 1 illustrates a fastener means designated 10 in accordance with the invention. The fastener means is comprised ofa head portion 12 and a shank portion 14. The head 12 may suitably contain means such as the slot 16 for insertion of any suitable drive means such as a magnetic screwdriver means or a normal screwdriver or the like.

The fastener means 10 may suitably include annular groove means or threads designated 18.

FIG. 2 illustrates, in greatly enlarged detail, the structural makeup of the fastener means which has been dis covered and disclosed herein. The makeup of the fastener means 10 includes a base metal such as of steel, brass, titanium, aluminum, zinc, or stainless steel, and

the like, designated 20 and the base metal of the fastener has structural layers formed thereover as follows. A first layer means of a preferred metal such as copper having a thickness between about 0.00001 and about 0.0001 inches designated 21. A second layer means designated 22 for example preferably of cadmium and having a thickness between about 0.00005 and about 0.0009 inches. A third layer means designated 23 of a preferred material such as copper having a thickness between about 0.00001 and about 0.0005 inches. A fourth layer means designated 24 of a preferred material such as nickel having a thickness between about 0.0001 and about 0.0007 inches.

A fifth layer means designated 25 of a material selected from at least one of the group consisting of preferably a tin/nickel alloy, or a tin/cobalt-nickel alloy, or a tin/cobalt alloy, with the layer means 25 having a thickness between about 0.000005 and about 0.00020 inches.

In accordance with this invention all of said layer means referred to above are generally and for the most part applied by electrolytic coating process.

On a preferred basis the fifth layer means (or the Sn/Ni etc., layer) has a thickness between about 0.00001 and about 0.00015, and specifically good results are obtained when the fifth layer means has a thickness between about 0.00001 and about 0.00009 inches.

It is to be understood that the dimensions of the layer means 21-25 as shown in FIG. 2 are greatly exaggerated and that these layer means would actually be formed on the fastener means in a uniform fashion such as would be compatible with the desired dimensions of the threads or annular groove means which are used on the fastener means 10.

lt should also be noted as another aspect of the inventive discovery herein that the layer means 24 of nickel may be deposited directly over the base metal or optionally the layer means 24 may be deposited over a copper layer means which is first deposited on the base metal 20 and then the product construction may be completed by formation of the layer means directly over the layer means 24. In this aspect of the invention layer means 21 is only optionally present and layer means 22 and 23 are omitted.

FIG. 3 illustrates a fastener means 10 similar to the fastener means of FIG. 1 except that in FIG. 3 the fastener means includes a self tapping means designated at one end of the fastener means.

The head portion 12 of the fastener means 10 may use any suitable driving means for insertion of the fastener or for connection of the fastener such as a transverse slot or recess for a screwdriver or a Phillips type recess for driving by a Phillips type drive member, or other types of torquing, crimping, and/or connection means can be used with the fastener of this invention. A magnetic drive means for example may be used in the utilization of a self tapping screw or fastener means in accordance with this invention. Numerous other types of driving or installing means may be used with the fastener means 10 depending on the particular construction of the inventive fastener means herein which is utilized.

The first layer means of copper referred to hereinabove may also suitably be a metal selected from at least one of the group consisting of copper, nickel, tin, cadmium, cobalt, and zinc. The thickness of this layer means may be on a preferred basis within the range of about 0.00002 to about 0.00008 inches.

The second layer means of cadmium referred to hereinabove may also suitably be a metal selected from at least one of the group consisting of cadmium, zinc, tin, cadmium-tin alloys, cadmium-zinc alloys, zinccopper alloys, zinc-tin alloys, and cadmium-copper alloys. On a preferred basis this layer means should have a thickness within the range of about 0.0001 to about 0.0005 inches.

The third layer means of copper referred to hereinabove may preferably have a thickness within the range of about 0.00004 to about 0.00012 inches.

The fourth layer means of nickel referred to above may preferably have a thickness within the range of about 0.0003 to about 0.0005 inches.

It is also par of the discovery in accordance with this invention that the fastener means may be subjected to heating, such as baking and the like at a temperature between about 250F and about 900F for a time duration of about 1/12 to about 8 hours and longer subsequent to application of the layer means (c) referred to above. This technique of subjecting to heating should be carried out preferably following the application of the layer means (c) or also it may be done subsequent to that time for example at the end of the application of the final coating layer means. This heating operation may be utilized to bring about some additional advantages in the final corrosion resistance properties of the fastener means described herein, and it also assists in forming an even more tenaciously adherent coating layer means on the fastener.

On a preferred basis layer means (b) referred to above may be selected from at least one of the group consisting of copper and/or nickel. Layer means (c) may be, in certain preferred instances, selected from at least one of the group consisting of cadmium, tin, zinc, and alloys thereof. Best results in accordance with the discovery herein appear to be obtained when layer means (c) is selected from the group consisting of cadmium, tin, and alloys thereof.

While it has been discovered to be possible to apply the coating layer means referred to hereinabove in several different manners the best results to date appear to be obtained with the application of the layer means (b) for example of copper from a cyanide-copper electrolytic coating bath (and the effects of this layer may be optionally enhanced by a thin additional deposition of copper from an acid-copper plating bath). Layer means (c) appears to be best applied from a cyanide-cadmium electrolytic coating bath. Layer means (d) appears to be best applied from a cyanide-copper strike electrolytic coating bath followed by a more efficient copper plating bath such as an acid-copper plating bath, or a cyanide-copper plating bath. Layer means (e) appears to be best applied from a bright acid-nickel electrolytic coating bath.

Layer means (f) appears to be best applied from an acid electrolytic coating bath. As an example of a coating solution suitable for use in said bath, the following has been found to be highly suitable for use in this invention:

02/ gal.

The operating temperature of said bath should be approximately l50F plus or minus The current density range used in said bath should be preferably amps per square foot and broadly the current density should be maintained in the range of about 5 to about amps per square foot. The time in the plating bath may be broadly varied dependent on the current density range which is used, however, broadly the time in the plating bath should be within the range of about 2 minutes to about 60 minutes and preferably the plating of layer means (f) is accomplished within about 3 minutes to about l0 minutes residence time in the bath. Other suitable tin-nickel alloy coatings may be formed using the bath formulations described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,141,836, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.

Examples of the heating or baking of the fastener means in accordance with this invention would be as follows. First, a plurality of 832 X 1 inch oval head tapping screws made of l0l8l022 carbon steel have a zinc layer means (or a tin or cadmium layer means) applied thereto from an electrolytic coating bath at a thickness of approximately 0.0001 0.0003 inches. At this point the fastener means with the zinc coating formed thereon is baked at 500F for approximately 2 hours. Then layer means ((1), (e) and (f) are applied to finish the fastener means construction. It is to be noted in accordance with this kind of embodiment of the fastener means that layer means (b) and (c) may be the same and may be formed of the zinc deposited coating of the thicknesses referred to immediately above.

Typical electrolytic baths which may satisfactorily be used for applying the layer means referred to above are as follows:

For layer means (b) of copper a cyanide-copper bath may be used of:

copper (as metal) 2 ozs. per gallon sodium cyanide (free) l 07. per gallon sodium hydroxide l 07.. per gallon balance water temperature 120F cathode current density (average) 25 amps per square foot barrel plating residence time 5 l0 minutes For a layer means of cadmium, the bath may be a cadmium electrolytic coating bath as follows:

cadmium (as metal) sodium cyanide (total) sodium hydroxide balance temperature cathode current density barrel plating residence time 2.7 ozs. per gallon 13.3 ozs. per gallon 1.9 ozs. per gallon water amps per square foot approximately 30 minutes ozs. per gallon 8 ozs. per gallon 6 ozs. per gallon hydrated nickel sulfate hydrated nickel chloride boric acid brighteners McGean No. 230 1 pint per 100 gallons McGean No. 233 4 gallons per 100 gallons -Continued balance water pH 4.0 temperature l45F average current density 45 amps per square foot barrel plating residence time 1V2 hours It should be understood that the above coating baths used to form the construction of the fastener means re ferred to herein are only typical baths and that other baths may be used It should be understood that in certain instances various of the layer means which are referred to herein may be applied by electroless coating techniques.

In accordance with the invention described herein it is preferred and best results appear to be obtained when the layer means (b), (c), (d), (e), or (f) as referred to above are formed by electrolytic coating process, however, it is also to be included as an aspect of this invention that these various layer means may also be formed by other coating techniques.

The advantages of this invention should be fairly apparent from the disclosure set forth above. However, it should also be clearly apparent that the fastener means discovered and disclosed herein is highly advantageous and believed to be commercially significant for the reason that the fastener means described herein possesses good corrosion resistance properties and good adhesion properties between the various layer means and the underlying base metal of the fastener. The layer means construction of the new fastener means discovered herein results in a fastener means which has a substrate with overlying layer means applied thereto which are strongly adherent to the fastener means such that the fastener means is highly useful in various fastener applications while at the same time the fastener means possesses good corrosion resistance properties making it very useful in commercial applications of numerous different types. It is believed that the fastener means discovered and disclosed herein is the first of its type and that it is particularly useful in the automotive field, or marine field, or in the construction field. Also the fastener means discovered and disclosed herein is very economical to produce.

Still another advantage of the invention herein is that the use of a tin-nickel alloy coating as the final layer means of the fastener construction provides a final coating which is uniquely and satisfactorily applied to the fastener means because of the excellent throwing power, better efficiency and also much easier to do in bulk in a plating barrel than is chromium. It is to be understood that the thicknesses referred to herein are normally measured on the fastener head (e.g., midway between the slot or recess and the outer edge of the head), however the thicknesses may also be measured on other suitable surfaces of the fastener means.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodi ments of the invention disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation, and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A plated carbon steel threaded fastener means for fastening objects in exterior as well as interior applications, such as in the automotive field and the like, and operative to provide good corrosion resistance proper ties. and being of a satin-like or shiny appearance, comprising:

a head portion at one end of the fastener means, and a shank portion,

said fastener means having a structural makeup of separate layers including, a. structural base metal means of carbon steel, b. layer means of copper having a thickness between about 0.00001 and about 0.0001 inches, c. layer means of cadmium having a thickness between about 0.00005 and about 0.0009 inches, d. layer means of copper having a thickness between about 0.00001 and about 00005 inches, e. layer means of nickel having a thickness between about 0.0001 and about 0.0007 inches, f. layer means of at least one material selected from the group consisting of a tin/nickel alloy, a tin/cobalt-nickel alloy, or a tin/cobalt alloy, said layer means having a thickness between about 0.000005 and about 000020 inches, said layer means being for the most part applied by electrolytic coating process and being operative to enable good corrosion resistance properties and good adhesion properties. 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein, said layer means (f) has a thickness between about 0.00001 and about 0.00015 inches. 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein, said layer means (f) has a thickness between about 0.00001 and about 0.00009 inches. 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein, said layer means (f) is a tin/nickel alloy. 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein, the layer (b) thickness is about 0.00002 to about 0.00008 inches, the layer (c) thickness is about 0.0001 to about 0.0005 inches, the layer ((1) thickness is about 0.00004 to about 0.00012 inches, the layer (e) thickness is about 0.0003 to about 0.0005 inches. 6. The invention of claim 1 wherein, self tapping means are included at one end of the fastener means for drilling a receptive aperture therefor. 7. The invention of claim 1 wherein, said fastener means is contacted with an aqueous solution means containing chromate and/or dichromate materials in solution and being operative to further assist said fastener means in retaining a shiny or lustrous appearance under significant corrosion conditions. 8. The invention of claim 7 wherein, said layer means (f) is selected from at least one of the group consisting ofa tin/cobalt alloy and a tin/- cobalt-nickel alloy. 9. The invention of claim 1 wherein, finely divided insoluble particle means are codeposited from liquid suspension with said layer means (f) for enhancing basis metal protection from corrosion.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein,

said layer means (f) is selected from at least one of the group consisting of a tin/cobalt alloy and a tin/- cobalt-nickel alloy.

11. As a new use, a carbon steel annular grooved fastener means for fastening objects in exterior as well as interior applications, such as in the automotive field and the like, and operative to provide good corrosion resistance properties, comprising:

a head portion at one end of the fastener means, and

a shank portion, said fastener means having a structural makeup of separate layers including, a. struc ural base metal means of carbon steel, b. layer means of copper having a thickness between about 0.00001 and about 0.0001 inches, c. layer means of cadmium having a thickness between about 0.00005 and about 0.0009 inches, (:1. layer means of copper having a thickness be tween about 0.00001 and about 0.0005 inches. e. layer means of nickel having a thickness between about 0.0001 and about 0.0007 inches, f. layer means of at least one material selected from the group consisting of a tin/nickel alloy, a tin/cobalt-nickel alloy, or a tin/cobalt alloy, said layer means having a thickness between about 0.000005 and about 0.00020 inches, said layer means being for the most part applied by electrolytic coating process and being operative to enable good corrosion resistance properties and good adhesion properties.

12. A plated carbon steel fastener means for fastening objects in exterior as well as interior applications, such as in the automotive field and the like, and operative to provide good corrosion resistance properties, and being of a satin-like or shiny appearance, comprisfastener means having a structural makeup of separate layers including,

a. structural base metal means of carbon steel,

b, layer means of copper c. layer means of cadmium d. layer means of copper e. layer means of nickel f. layer means of at least one material selected from the group consisting of a tin/nickel alloy, a tin/- cobalt-nickel alloy, or a tin/cobalt alloy,

said layer means being for the most part applied by electrolytic coating process and being operative to enable good corrosion resistance properties and good adhesion properties. 

1. A PLATED CARBON STEEL THREADED FASTENER MEANS FOR FASTENING OBJECTS IN EXTERIOR AS WELL AS INTERIOR APPLICATIONS, SUCH AS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE FIELD AND THE LIKE, AND OPERATIVE TO PROVIDE GOOD CORROSION RESISTANCE PROPERTIES, AND BEING OF A SATIN-LIKE OR SHINY APPEARANCE COMPRISING: A HEAD PORTION AT ONE END OF THE FASTENER MEANS, AND A SHANK PORTION SAID FASTENER MEANS HAVING A STRUCTURAL MAKEUP OF SEPARATE LAYERS INCLUDING, A. STRUCTURAL BASE METAL MEANS OF CARBON STEEL, B. LAYER MEANS OF COPPER HAVING A THICKNESS BETWEEN ABOUT 0.00001 AND ABOUT 0.0001 INCHES, C. LAYER MEANS OF CADIUM HAVING A THICKNESS BETWEEN ABOUT 0.00005 AND ABOUT 0.0009 INCHES D. LAYER MEANS OF COPPER HAVING A THICKNESS BETWEEN ABOUT 0.00001 AND ABOUT 0.005 INCHES, E. LAYER MEANS OF NICKEL HAVING A THICKNESS BETWEEN ABOUT 0.0001 AND ABOUT 0.0007 INCHES, F. LAYER MEANS OF AT LEAST ONE MATERIAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF A TIN/NICKEL ALLOY, A TIN/COBALTNICKEL ALLOY, OR A TIN/COBALT ALLOY, SAID LAYER MEANS HAVING A THICKNESS BETWEEN ABOUT 0.000005 AND ABOUT 0.00020 INCHES, SAID LAYER MEANS BEING FOR THE MOST PART APPLIED BY ELECTROLYTIC COATING PROCESS AND BEING OPERATIVE TO ENABLE GOOD CORROSION RESISTANCE PROPERTIES AND GOOD ADHESION PROPERITIES.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein, said layer means (f) has a thickness between about 0.00001 and about 0.00015 inches.
 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein, said layer means (f) has a thickness between about 0.00001 and about 0.00009 inches.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein, said layer means (f) is a tin/nickel alloy.
 5. The invention of claim 1 wherein, the layer (b) thickness is about 0.00002 to about 0.00008 inches, the layer (c) thickness is about 0.0001 to about 0.0005 inches, the layer (d) thickness is about 0.00004 to about 0.00012 inches, the layer (e) thickness is about 0.0003 to about 0.0005 inches.
 6. The invention of claim 1 wherein, self tapping means are included at one end of the fastener means for drilling a receptive aperture therefor.
 7. The invention of claim 1 wherein, said fastener means is contacted with an aqueous solution means containing chromate and/or dichromate materials in solution and being operative to further assist said fastener means in retaining a shiny or lustrous appearance under significant corrosion conditions.
 8. The invention of claim 7 wherein, said layer means (f) is selected from at least one of the group consisting of a tin/cobalt alloy and a tin/cobalt-nickel alloy.
 9. The invention of claim 1 wherein, finely divided insoluble particle means are codeposited from liquid suspension with said layer means (f) for enhancing basis metal protection from corrosion.
 10. The invention of claim 1 wherein, said layer means (f) is selected from at least one of the group consisting of a tin/cobalt alloy and a tin/cobalt-nickel alloy.
 11. As a new use, a carbon steel annular grooved fastener means for fastening objects in exterior as well as interior applications, such as in the automotive field and the like, and operative to provide good corrosion resistance properties, comprising: a head portion at one end of the fastener means, and a shank portion, said fastener means having a structural makeup of separate layers including, a. structural base metal means of carbon steel, b. layer means of copper having a thickness between about 0.00001 and about 0.0001 inches, c. layer means of cadmium having a thickness between about 0.00005 and about 0.0009 inches, d. layer means of copper having a thickness between about 0.00001 and about 0.0005 inches, e. layer means of nickel having a thickness between about 0.0001 and about 0.0007 inches, f. layer means of at least one material selected from the group consisting of a tin/nickel alloy, a tin/cobAlt-nickel alloy, or a tin/cobalt alloy, said layer means having a thickness between about 0.000005 and about 0.00020 inches, said layer means being for the most part applied by electrolytic coating process and being operative to enable good corrosion resistance properties and good adhesion properties.
 12. A plated carbon steel fastener means for fastening objects in exterior as well as interior applications, such as in the automotive field and the like, and operative to provide good corrosion resistance properties, and being of a satin-like or shiny appearance, comprising: fastener means having a structural makeup of separate layers including, a. structural base metal means of carbon steel, b. layer means of copper c. layer means of cadmium d. layer means of copper e. layer means of nickel f. layer means of at least one material selected from the group consisting of a tin/nickel alloy, a tin/cobalt-nickel alloy, or a tin/cobalt alloy, said layer means being for the most part applied by electrolytic coating process and being operative to enable good corrosion resistance properties and good adhesion properties. 